Stackable storage racks and modular storage systems

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to stackable storage racks and modular storage systems, which particularly includes a product holding element which is stackable with a second similar element, the element having a member which is adapted to support and be resiliently clipped to a member of the second element, the resilience being provided by the flexibility of the element&#39;s construction. The invention also provides a modular storage system comprising at least two similar product holding elements which are stackable one on top of another.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention refers to stackable storage racks. Moreparticularly but not exclusively, the invention relates to wine racks.The invention also relates to a modular storage system.

[0002] It is known to provide stackable storage racks for storing avariety of items, for example, wine bottles, CD's, DVD's video or audiocassettes, shoes, vegetables. Generally, such storage racks are rigidconstruction, whether they are pre-assembled or intended forself-assembly. Also, often they simply rest one on top of the other andrely on their own weight and/or that of the items being stored to remainstacked.

[0003] According to the invention there is provided a product holdingelement which is stackable with a second similar element, the elementhaving a member which is adapted to support and be resiliently clippedto a member of the second element, the resilience being provided by theflexibility of the element's construction.

[0004] Preferably the element has at least one substantially horizontalmember, and substantially downwardly facing clip means for engagementwith the substantially horizontal member or a respective substantiallyhorizontal member of a similar element below.

[0005] The clip means preferably comprised at least one U-shaped bendformed by the construction of the element.

[0006] The element may be formed of metal wire, and is preferablychromium plated or coated with plastics material, or is of stainlesssteel.

[0007] The element may be of continuous construction.

[0008] In one embodiment the element is of elongated construction, andhas a pair of feet at each end, each of which feet forms a U-shaped bendto clip onto a respective substantially horizontal member of a similarelement below.

[0009] Preferably the feet are connected to side members and when twoelements are stacked together, the feet of the upper element are locatedin locking relation between the respective side members of the elementbelow.

[0010] In one embodiment the element is a wine rack. Preferably theelement has longitudinal members formed to hold a desired number, forexample, three or more wine bottles in at least one row in spacedrelation with each other.

[0011] In another embodiment the element is a linear storage rack fordifferent items, for example, CD's, DVD's, audio or video cassettes orthe like.

[0012] In a further embodiment the element is an open container forholding one or more items, for example, vegetables, soaps or other bathproducts.

[0013] The invention also provides a modular storage system comprisingat least two similar product holding elements which are stackable one ontop of another, wherein the lower element has a member which supportsand is resiliently clipped to the upper element when the upper elementis stacked thereon, the resilience being provided by the flexibility ofthe element's construction.

[0014] The invention further provides a stackable wine rack comprising aplurality of modular elements, each element comprising holding means forstoring wine bottles in at least one row, wherein adjacent elements areinterconnected by means which support and resiliently clip one elementto the other, the resilience being provided by the flexibility of theelement's construction.

[0015] Preferably the clipping together of adjacent elements is affectedby flexing a member of one of the units relative to a member of theother unit.

[0016] It is also preferred that the elements are nestable when not inuse, or for transport or storage purposes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] By way of example, a specific embodiment in accordance with theinvention will now be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

[0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wine rack.

[0019]FIG. 2 shows two racks stacked one on top of another.

[0020]FIG. 3 is a plan view showing three racks being stacked together.

[0021]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a stackablerack.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Referring to the drawings, there is shown a modular storagesystem in which two or more identical wine racks are stacked one on topof the other.

[0023] In this embodiment, the wine racks are constructed of chromiumplated steel wire, but the wire may, for example, be plastics coated orof stainless steel.

[0024] Each wine rack 10 is of elongated construction including a pairor longitudinal members 11 shaped for holding in this embodiment fourwine bottles (not shown) is spaced relation with each other. Each end ofeach longitudinal member 11 forms a downwardly facing U-shaped bend 12which is reverse bent to form a foot 13 and then an upwardly extendingside member 14. The upper ends of the two side members 14 at therespective end of the rack are joined by a horizontal member 15. Therack 10 is thereby of continuous construction.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, two or any number of racks 10 arestackable, one on top of another (only two and three racks being shown),by engagement of the feet 13 of the upper rack over the horizontalmembers 15 of the lower rack. For stacking the two racks, the feet 13 atone end of the upper rack are engaged over the respective horizontalmember 15 of the lower rack by slight flexing of the feet inwardly, ifnecessary. The flexibility of the side members 14 then allows the feet13 at the other end of the upper rack to clip onto the respectivehorizontal member 15 locating in the bends 12 of the respective feet 13.The horizontal members 15 of the lower rack thereby provide support forthe upper rack as well as the means for clipping the upper rack onto thelower rack. The feet 13 of the upper rack also fit inside the respectiveside members 14 of the lower rack so that the upper rack is lockedlaterally to the lower rack, both forward and back as shown and side toside, i.e. in all four lateral directions.

[0026] To separate the two racks 10, the upper rack is lifted at one endrelative to the lower rack, whereby the resilience of the constructionof the lower rack allows the feet 13 of the upper rack to be disengagedfrom the respective horizontal member 15 of the lower rack.

[0027] When not in use, the two racks and any number of furtheridentical racks 10 can be nested together as shown for transport orstorage purposes. No further disassembly or tools are required.

[0028] If desired, the pair of longitudinal members 11 of each rack 10may be shorter or longer than is illustrated, and shaped to hold anynumber of wine bottles in a row. Each rack may also have more than onepair of longitudinal members interconnected at their ends by the sidemembers 14, whereby each rack is adapted to hold the desired number ofbottles in two or more rows, one above the other. Furthermore, thelongitudinal members 11 of the element or each pair may be provided atdifferent relative heights to allow the wine bottles to be stored at adesired angle to the horizontal.

[0029] It will be appreciated that the same principle of constructionand stacking may be employed for storage racks intended to holddifferent items other than wine bottles.

[0030] For example, the longitudinal members may be generally straightto form a shelf type rack for CD's, DVD's, audio or video cassettes orthe like.

[0031] The longitudinal members may also be straight and at differentheights for the purpose of storing shoes.

[0032] In a further embodiment, the general shape could be rectangular,or circular, or the shape in FIG. 4 to provide a suitable container forvegetables or, for example, soaps or other bath products.

[0033] The invention is not limited to the specific details of theembodiments described above. For example, the product holding elementsto be stacked are intended to be similar so that they are matching, butneed not be identical members, Provided that the support and resilientclipping features between adjacent elements are maintained.

What is claimed is:
 1. A stackable storage rack being a product holdingelement which is stackable with a second similar element, the elementhaving a member which is adapted to support and be resiliently clippedto a member of the second element, the resilience being provided by theflexibility of the element's construction.
 2. A product holding elementas claimed in claim 1, wherein the element has at least onesubstantially horizontal member, and substantially downwardly facingclip means for engagement with the substantially horizontal member or arespective substantially horizontal member of a similar element below.3. A product holding element as claimed in claim 2, wherein the clipmeans comprises at least one U-shaped bend formed by the construction ofthe element.
 4. A product holding element as claimed in claim 1 or 2,wherein the element is formed of metal wire.
 5. A product holdingelement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the element is of continuousconstruction.
 6. A product holding element as claimed in claim 1,wherein the element is of elongated construction, and has a pair of feetat each end, each of which feet forms a U-shaped bend to clip onto arespective substantially horizontal member of a similar element below.7. A product holding element as claimed in claim 6, wherein the feet arejoined to side members and when two elements are stacked together, thefeet of the upper element are located in locking relation between therespective side members of the element below.
 8. A product holdingelement as claimed in claim 6, wherein the element is a wine rack.
 9. Aproduct holding element as claimed in claim 8, wherein the element haslongitudinal members formed to hold a desired number of wine bottles inat least one row in spaced relation with each other.
 10. A productholding element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the element is a linearstorage rack.
 11. A product holding element as claimed in claim 1,wherein the element is an open container for holding one or more items.12. A modular storage system comprising at least two similar productholding elements which are stackable one on top of another, wherein thelower element has a member which supports and is resiliently clipped tothe upper element when the upper element is stacked thereon, theresilience being provided by the flexibility of the element'sconstruction.
 13. A modular storage system as claimed in claim 12,wherein the element has at least one substantially horizontal member,and substantially downwardly facing clip means for engagement with thesubstantially horizontal member or a respective substantially horizontalmember of a similar element below.
 14. A modular storage system asclaimed in claim 13, wherein the clip means comprises at least oneU-shaped bend formed by the construction of the element.
 15. A modularstorage system as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the element isformed of metal wire.
 16. A modular storage system as claimed in claim15, wherein the element is of continuous construction.
 17. A modularstorage system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the element is ofelongated construction, and has a pair of feet at each end, each ofwhich feet forms a U-shaped bend to clip onto a respective substantiallyhorizontal member of a similar element below.
 18. A modular storagesystem as claimed in claim 17, wherein the feet are joined to sidemembers and when two elements are stacked together, the feet of theupper element are located in locking relation between the respectiveside members of the element below.
 19. A modular storage system asclaimed in claim 17, wherein the element is a wine rack.
 20. A modularstorage system as claimed in claim 19, wherein the element haslongitudinal members formed to hold a desired number of wine bottles inat least one row in spaced relation with each other.
 21. A modularstorage system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the element is a linearstorage rack.
 22. A modular storage system as claimed in claim 12,wherein the element is an open container for holding one or more items.23. A modular storage system as claimed in claim 12, wherein theelements are nestable when not in use, or for transport of storagepurpose.
 24. A stackable wine rack comprising a plurality of modularelements, each element comprising holding means for storing wine bottlesin at least one row, wherein adjacent elements are interconnected bymeans which support and resiliently clip one element to the other, theresilience being provided by the flexibility of the element'sconstruction.
 25. A stackable wine rack as claimed in claim 24, whereinthe clipping together of adjacent elements is affected by flexing amember of one of the units relative to a member of the other unit.
 26. Astackable wine rack as claimed in claim 24, wherein the elements arenestable when not in use, or for transport or storage purposes.